“You girls are so European now.” Jaden laughs.
Michelle gives Jaden a long warm hug and then runs to the door. “Au revoir!” She waves, as she rushes out.
Jaden and Grace continue looking through all the photographs that Michelle has taken.
“She really took some amazing shots of you,” Grace whispers while concentrating on what she is looking at on the computer screen.
“She’s bad ass!”
“Well, you’re not a bad model either, ya know.” Grace lifts her eyes from the screen and smiles at him.
For two weeks, he has been battling the temptation to kiss her. There were many moments while they were either sitting on the couch or on Grace’s bed in deep conversation where the compulsion crept over him, but he fought it. As she sits next to him wearing a pink tank top and sheer, pink cotton pajama shorts, he is sure he has never seen her look so beautiful. He can no longer fight the urge to kiss her.
As Jaden leans in close to Grace, moves her hair away from her neck, and kisses her softly there, she is surprised. Her body warms and tingles from the touch of his lips on her skin. Grace backs away and throws her hand over her mouth. He does not back away from her, instead he leans in again, and this time he brings his lips over hers.
“Jaden!” Grace pants, backing away again.
Moving in he stops his head near her neck. “Tell me you don’t want me and I’ll stop,” he says, whispering into her ear as he sucks on her lobe.
She cannot deny that she wants him, because she does.
Over the last few months, they have grown even closer than they were when they lived together, and over the past two weeks, her feelings for him have changed from ones of mere friendship, becoming stronger. When he looks at her with his dark eyes, he makes her weak in the knees. She is extremely attracted to him and finds herself daydreaming of kissing him. She realizes that she may have even worn the skimpy pajamas on purpose in an attempt to attract him.
Jaden reaches between her legs, rubs her thighs, and then pulls her chair closer to his. He places kisses on her neck, then kisses around to her chin and cheeks. Feelings of passion rush over her body. There is no use denying it. She has not been with anyone intimately since the last time she had sex with him, and the need to be touched is overpowering her wits. No one she has attempted to date has been worthy of giving this part of herself to. Jaden holds a special place in her heart, and he is more than worthy in her eyes.
He stands and pulls her from her chair, lifting her up into his arms. He carries her over to the couch and lays her on it, on her knees. Pulling her shorts off rapidly, then her panties, he kisses from the back of her neck down to her backside. She is becoming less and less logical with every kiss he places on her body. He rips off his shirt, his pants, and boxers, discarding them carelessly on the floor. His movements are abrupt and heated, which only intensify her hunger for him. He climbs onto the couch placing one knee on either side of her hips so that her legs go between his. His stiff erection touches her backside and a thrill of excitement shudders through her entire body. He lays his torso on her back and sucks on her neck, back, and shoulders. She moans in pleasure, the sound coming from her parted lips uncontrollable.
As he kisses her, their naked bodies move together in a similar motion. He rests on his knees once again and traces over her body with his fingertips, plaguing her with delicate caresses. His finger slides gently around the crease of her backside. She becomes wet at his touch. He bends down and licks around the crease of her bottom. Every muscle in her body contracts at the touch of his tongue. He delicately slips his tongue into her crack and flicks it slowly.
What is he doing? She cannot dwell on the thought of how strange it is for him to lick her there for too long because she is enjoying every tantalizing movement of his tongue. Pulling her by her waist he lifts her body so that her bottom is pointing in the air, rising off the couch. He slips his fingers inside her and pushes them deep into her.
“Oh,” she weeps, as his fingers push and prod her in all the right places.
Grace has not been touched in this way since the last time she made love to Ian. Ian, the unwelcome thought of him forces itself into her mind, and she pushes it out just as quickly. Jaden moves his entire body at the same rhythm as his fingers moving in and out of her. He pulls his fingers out of her, and she can hear him sucking on them. Jaden spits in his hand and rubs the saliva on his erection, then deliciously eases himself inside her. She cannot control the gasp that escapes her lips. He is so large, it is almost painful. She does not recall this from the first time they had sex. He grabs her hips and begins an appetizing motion. Her body moves with his in this sweet sensual ride.
He pulls himself out of her and turns her body over so that she is facing him. He grabs each of her legs, puts one on each of his shoulders, and again plunges into her. This time he puts himself inside of her and then pulls himself out immediately, repeating this until she groans at him. He lunges himself into her with a heated passionate fury.
“Yes!” she breathes with a heavy, hot breath.
He pulls her up to his chest, her breasts smashing against his sweaty chest while he is still inside her. He sucks on her bottom lip as quiet moans seep from her open mouth, and then bites down.
“Ouch!” She cries, but the pain excites her.
He slows his pace as his mouth falls over her breast and takes her nipple into his hot, wet mouth. He brushes the hair that is stuck to her face by sweat aside, and stares into her eyes. She feels as though he is looking into her soul. As he nibbles on her nipple she loses all control and orgasms.
After he comes, he lays her on the couch and then sits on the other edge of it, trying to catch his breath. She sits up and changes the position of her head so that she is lying in his lap. Jaden brushes her hair softly with his fingers. “That was…” he seems unable to catch his breath and to finish his sentence.
“Extraordinaire!” Grace breathes in her best French accent.
“Extraordinaire!” Jaden says, miserably failing at his attempt at a French accent. “Let’s go shower,” he says, after standing.
Grace admires his tall, lanky frame, and the subtle six pack on his stomach.
Steam fills the bathroom as the hot water lusciously stings Grace’s skin, as it washes over them. Jaden’s body slides with ease over the back of Grace’s.
“This shower feels so good,” he whispers into her ear, his arms wrapped around her and his hands holding firmly to her breasts.
Grace turns to face him and rubs a loofah covered in soap on his chest.
“You’re still too skinny,” she says, as she washes him.
“I’ve gained ten pounds since I’ve been here.” He laughs.
Jaden pulls on her hair forcing her neck to tilt back and sucks on her neck at the sweet spot located just below her earlobe. His warm breath fills her ear with erotic sounds and sends shivers of passion through her body. He pushes her against the shower wall, takes her leg into his hand, and places her foot on the edge of the tub, causing her legs to be spread wide for him. He forces himself inside her abruptly, taking her once again.
After their shower, Grace watches Jaden gather his things around the loft silently, as she cooks their dinner. Her thoughts once again turn to Ian. She has never made love to another man, besides Ian, as she just did with Jaden, twice. She is astonished that she does not feel guilty. Shaking Ian out of her mind she turns her gaze back to Jaden, who is dressed in only his boxers. He’s so hot!
“I wish you didn’t have to go,” she calls to him.
“Especially after that!” he looks at her with a wicked smile.
She laughs and continues to prepare their meal as they talk about the good times they shared in Paris.
They sit silently together on the stools at the bar enjoying the food. “I sure am going to miss your cooking,” he says, breaking the silence between them.
“I’m really going to miss you, Jaden.” The thought of him not
being there the next night, as she sits down to dinner pains her.
“I’ll come back soon. I promise. Sooner rather than later.” He brushes his hand over her face. Suddenly he pulls his hand away quickly as if he has been startled.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m just hungry.”
“Are you sure? You seem upset all of a sudden.”
“I’m sure. Eat,” he says, pointing to what is left of her food on her plate.
That night she finds herself comfortably nuzzled in Jaden’s arms. For the first time in a long time, she does not feel alone. After a long while of lying silently she finally gets the courage to ask about Ian. “Jaden?” she whispers.
“Yeah, sugar?” He takes her hand into his and kisses the top of it.
“Have you…heard from Ian?” She can barely make out the look he returns, but she can make it out enough to see that he has a scowl on his face. “I just…is he okay?”
“I don’t know, Grace. I’m sure he’s fine. Ian is staying away because that is what he wants to do. Don’t you think it’s time you let him go?”
Grace snuggles into Jaden’s arms and lets his words sink in. “I just—”
“It’s time to move on. Let go of the past and look forward to your future.”
She smiles, if not only for herself. “You’re right. I just worry that he’s dead somewhere.”
“I know Ian. He’s somewhere being pissed off at us. I’m sure he’s fine. Now listen, no more talk about him, okay?”
Grace exhales, “Okay.” She extends her neck and places a kiss on his chin. “Night.”
“Night, sugar.”
The next day, as she watches Jaden walk through the security line at the airport, her heart breaks a little. The usual ache that she has in her heart for Ian has been replaced with a new, different, longing ache for Jaden.
“I’m really going to miss him,” she confesses aloud.
When she arrives home, the loft is cold and empty as if it signifies how alone she is now that Jaden is gone. She is filled with sorrow and the new ache for him consumes her. She walks over to the lamp by the couch and pulls the chain to turn it on. There lying on the end table is a white envelope with her name written on it in Jaden’s squiggly handwriting. She opens the envelope eagerly to find a letter from him.
Grace,
Yesterday was an awesome dream come true! I haven’t stopped thinking about you or wanting you since you moved out. There’s not a day that I don’t think of you. I will miss you so much. I promise you that I’ll be back, sooner than you may think. Thank you for showing me Paris. You girls have given me some of the best memories of my life, especially the ones you gave me yesterday! I’ll miss ya! Remember though, I’ll see you sooner rather than later!
Love,
Jaden
Chapter 20
Ian sits at the piano bench of the new grand piano that Jaden recently purchased. The piano is kitty-cornered in the living room of the old Victorian home. The sound of Ian playing fills the entire house with his haunting melody. He is lost in the emotions of the lyrics and melodies he is singing. His eyes are shut as he howls painful heartbroken words and his long fingers flow delicately over the ivory keys of the piano.
“Hey, man, I’m home,” Jaden says, as he stands behind Ian.
He stops playing, rises from his spot at the piano, and enthusiastically wraps one arm around Jaden. “So how was Massachusetts?” he asks, with a gigantic smile. “How’s your Mom?”
“Ahh, yeah, man, it was great. She’s good. Glad to be home though.”
Jaden inspects the latest construction on his grandfather’s home with pride. “It looks rad, man.”
“They’ve been here every day for the last two weeks. It better look rad!” Ian chuckles.
“I’m beat, man. I’m going to bed,” Jaden says, as he picks up his duffle bag and heads to his room.
“That’s it? You’re not going to tell me about your trip?”
“Ya know, it’s home, man. Same shit different time. Mom is good. Saw a couple old friends. Went fishing. Just the norm. Not much to tell.”
“You don’t seem very happy.”
“I’m just damn tired. I need some good hours spent under my covers.”
“See ya tomorrow, man,” Ian says, as he waves Jaden goodnight.
Ian sits back down at his spot at the piano bench and pencils in music notes on a piece of sheet music. He sings and plays again, all the while thinking of Grace.
Grace sits in her art appreciation course and finds that she is daydreaming of Jaden. The way he kissed her and made love to her flashes through her mind like film running through a projector. Her body tingles at the memory of them on the couch and in her shower.
A young man with deep brown eyes and curly shoulder length, dirty, blond hair leans over to her and releases her from her thoughts of Jaden.
“Hi. Do you speak English?” asks the young man, taking his time to separate each of his words.
Grace smiles. “Oui. Yeah, I do.”
The young man gives her a glorious smile and a sigh of relief. “I can’t understand a word this professor is saying.” He laughs, quietly.
“After class I’ll help you,” she whispers.
He nods. Once again with a glorious smile falling over his face. The blue of his deep set eyes reminds her of the powder blue sky and she admires the tiny wrinkles that form near them when he smiles. Grace regards this young man as being very handsome.
From her pleasant conversation with him after class, Grace discovers that Eddie is an exchange student from the United States, who has only been in France for a few weeks. They sit on the grass of their university as she goes over the notes from the lecture they just endured.
“They told me all my professors would speak English.” He looks at her, confused.
“Well, Eddie, that was English, but Professor Girard has an extremely thick accent,” Grace teases and laughs.
“Would you mind helping me out until I get adjusted?”
“Not at all,” she smiles.
They decide to have lunch together, and Grace teaches Eddie simple French words as they walk to the university cafeteria. They exchange telephone numbers and make small talk while eating their lunch.
“So you’re from Hawaii?” she asks, excited. “I have always wanted to go there!”
“It’s beautiful, but you tend to get island fever, believe it or not.”
“What’s your major?”
“I’m a sculptor,” he says, showing her his masculine hands. “My mother is a sculptor as well, and my father is a painter.”
“So you come from a talented gene pool?”
“I guess you could say that.”
Grace is fond of Eddie already. She can tell that he is a bit of an introvert by how quietly he speaks, and the lack of things he has to say, but he is delightful nonetheless. His good looks may also have something to do with her feelings for him. The way his cheeks swell up around his eyes makes them look like tiny blue, glowing, glass balls that sparkle when he smiles, and his lightly tanned skin makes her feel a little giddy every time she looks at him. The way his hair flows in wide, soft curls that capture the sun’s rays in his highlights, may also have something to do with it. Eddie is very attractive. He is about her height, five nine, and broad. Grace catches herself lingering on his looks too long and bites into her sandwich.
Eddie walks Grace to her next class and brings his hand out of his pocket. “It was nice to meet you, Grace.”
Grace takes his hand. He has a firm, rough grip. “Nice to meet you too, Eddie. I’ll see you tomorrow in Art Appreciation.”
Eddie shakes her hand and then nods before he walks away quietly.
Grace walks into her empty home and lets her backpack slide off her shoulder and land on the hardwood floors with a thud. She is exhausted again. It has been another long day at school with a photo-shoot to follow. She pulls her cell phone out of her pocket and looks at it.
Sadness overcomes her. There are still no new text messages, emails, or telephone calls from Jaden. She counts on her fingers. He’s been home for two days. She is too exhausted to care at this point, so she flops on her bed and immediately falls to sleep.
Grace wakes up from the sounds of Michelle squeezing in the door carrying her large camera bag.
“Hey, Missy,” Grace says, in a groggy voice.
“Hey, sweets! Sorry, I was trying to be quiet.”
Grace emerges from her bedroom wearing a pair of Jaden’s boxers and a half shirt that reads FOXY.
“So, Foxy, you stole his underwear? You’re such a freakin stalker!” Michelle teases.
Grace flops on the couch, brings her knees to her chest, and pouts as she rests her head sideways on her knees, her big green eyes staring at Michelle.
“What?” Michelle asks, as she takes a seat next to her. “He hasn’t called yet, has he?”
Grace shakes her head.
“He’s busy trying to put his record together, and with all the construction going on at his house, it’s probably just gotten away from him. Oh! And don’t forget the time difference!” she says, undoubtedly trying her hardest to condone the fact that Jaden has not called Grace.
“It takes five minutes to call to say hello!”
Michelle sits next to her and puts her arm around Grace bringing her close to her body. Her sister’s warmth always comforts Grace.
“He’ll call. Don’t worry.”
Ian lies in the bed he used to share with Grace. Unwelcome tears trickle from his eyes. He physically aches for her. How can he forget her when every song that he has written is about her? Every song that the fans love is about Grace, and he cannot stop playing just because it makes him feel sad.
Ian crawls off the bed and walks over to the closet. He unzips the garment bag and brushes his fingers over Grace’s lacey wedding dress.
The Falling of Love (The Falling Series Book 1) Page 25
